Eli Gold's Health Improving, Hopeful to Return to Booth in 2023

The legendary play-by-play broadcaster is optimistic he can return to calling Alabama Football games this season.

Austin Hannon | Apr 14, 2023

Alabama Football fans around the country were devastated to hear that legendary broadcaster Eli Gold would miss the 2022-23 season due to health concerns.

They were even more concerned when they heard it was cancer.

On Thursday, Gold spoke publicly for the first time in a while on WNSP Sports Radio.

“I’m doing fine," Gold said. “It’s not been easy. It’s not been simple, by any stretch. But I do have just one more chemotherapy session to go, and the doctors are really pleased, everybody is excited. And if the doctors are pleased, then I’m pleased. I feel wonderful.”

Initially, Gold thought he wasn't sick but just had orthopedic problems. It wasn't until January that he announced publicly it was cancer.

“My legs stopped working way back over a year ago,” Gold said. “I woke up one morning, and my legs wouldn’t work. I mean, I went to bed – I was walking, I walk into the bedroom. I wake up the next morning, my legs don’t work.”

“I just had no interest in eating. I couldn’t keep anything down. I was sick. The doctors told Claudette, my wife, they told her a couple of times that I might not make it through the night. So I was a very sick boy. Turns out that I have gotten better, but there’s still work to be done. […] I couldn’t even catch my breath. I was struggling to breathe because I couldn’t get any breath because I was hiccupping. The doctor, who they brought in to figure this deal out with the hiccups, is the one who stumbled upon what that was doing and why it was happening. And because of that, I had cancer.”

Chris Stewart filled in for Gold last season. After 180 days in the hospital and 140 pounds lost, Gold feels like he is on his way back to the booth this season.

“Lord willing and the creek don’t rise, I am planning to be back in time for the start of the regular season,” Gold said. “I may show up with a walker, and if that’s the case, big darn deal. There are tons of people who use walkers in this world. If I can get by with a cane, I’ll do that. Whatever it is.”

Austin Hannon joined the BamaCentral team in December 2022. He graduated from The University of Alabama with a degree in sports media and brings a ton of journalism experience. Hannon is the former sports editor of The Crimson White, the University's school newspaper. Hannon's coverage focuses primarily on Alabama football, men's basketball and baseball. Contact: cahannon01@gmail.com

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